A record number of bears began to come out to people in the western United States

A record number of cases of bears entering the streets of cities have been recorded in a number of western US states. Hungry predators are making their way into American homes and shops in search of food. This was reported on August 29 by the Reuters news agency, citing data from local authorities.

In 2026, more than 7,000 bear sightings were recorded in Colorado, which broke the record of 2019. In New Mexico, 187 bears have been killed since the beginning of the year, the highest number since 2011. During the same period, 39 bears were euthanized in Utah, which exceeded the data for any full year of observations.

It is noted that the number of fatal bear attacks in the west of the country remains low, and only a few cases are recorded annually.

According to Nevada specialist Heather Reich, the number of encounters with bears may increase if the drought in the United States does not end. She warned that in the coming months, predators will actively gain weight before hibernation and will look for food in residential areas.

"We can't even imagine what awaits us in September and October. It's just going to be Armageddon for us," Reich said.

Master of the taiga: why bears are increasingly attacking people

In Altai, a predator killed a 29-year-old tourist.

In northern Japan, on April 23, a bear attacked a firefighter searching for a missing woman, whose body was later found with signs of a predator attack. It is noted that police and hunters were combing a mountainous area in the city of Siwa in Iwate Prefecture when they encountered a bear. The 56-year-old officer suffered a scratch on his face and other injuries. The predator was shot on the spot.